Adrienne shares her incredible journey through unimaginable loss, including the passing of her two children, Mackenzie and Kyler.

As a mother, survivor, and grief recovery specialist, she opens up about navigating life after loss, finding courage through adversity, and transforming pain into purpose.

Adrienne’s path led her to create Dragonfly Coaching

She now helps others heal, rebuild, and rediscover meaning after grief. Her story is both heart-wrenching and hopeful...a powerful reminder that even in the darkest seasons, it’s possible to rise again with compassion, purpose, and love.

Takeaways:

• Grief is not something to overcome, but something to move through with grace.
• Healing comes from connection, honesty, and allowing yourself to feel.
• The loss of two children taught Adrienne that strength and softness can coexist.
• Dragonfly Coaching was born from Adrienne’s determination to help others find hope after heartbreak.
• Sharing stories of pain can open pathways to collective healing.

“I want something good to come from this.” — Adrienne

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Overcoming Adversity

02:04 Adrienne's Journey Begins

04:02 Facing Family Health Crises

06:24 Navigating Loss and Grief

10:08 The Impact of Addiction

14:03 Coping with Multiple Losses

17:59 Finding Strength in Healing

26:52 Reflections on Resilience

28:53 A Mother’s Strength in Crisis

33:14 Cherishing Memories and Finding Meaning

38:14 Transforming Grief into Purpose

44:48 Finding Joy Amidst Loss

49:57 Sharing the Journey Through Writing

Learn more about Adrienne’s story in her book:

The Almost Miracle Years

This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.

Visit Divini and use discount code Breanne10 at checkout for a discount!

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#grief #resilience #cancer #recovery #mentalhealth #motherhood #loss #healing

In this episode, I sit down with Army Veteran, Empowerment Coach, Host, & speaker Dielle Luster to talk about what it really looks like to walk through adversity with honesty, faith, and community.

And we laugh...a lot! It's hard not to with Dielle's infectious energy.

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Subscribe to her YouTube channel

From the discipline and “face it head on” mindset she learned in the military to the tenderness of mercy, vulnerability, and self-love, Dielle’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s okay to not be okay...and that we’re all worth the save.

We talk about the messy middle seasons: separation, shifting identities, and learning to let go of control when life doesn’t follow the plan you had in your head.

Dielle shares how prayer became less of a performance and more of a raw, ongoing conversation with God, and how experiencing God in simple, everyday moments changed the way she sees herself and others.

We also dig into her transition into empowerment coaching - how her desire to help others heal grew out of her own battles with negative self-talk, emotional pain, and starting over.

Writing becomes a form of therapy in this conversation: a way to process grief, name hard emotions, and begin the work of self-forgiveness and spiritual growth.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to be “strong” all the time, this one is for you.

Dielle’s story is a masterclass in military grit meets mercy, in learning to embrace vulnerability as strength, and in finding your people - the community that reminds you “you can’t quit” when everything in you wants to tap out.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• Growing up in the military and how “run toward the fear” became a life lesson
• Life after service: identity shifts, separation, and learning who you are outside the uniform
• How community and friendship hold you when relationships get complicated
• Why vulnerability is not weakness, and how it opens the door to real healing
• Prayer as a tool for emotional processing, not perfection
• Experiencing God in the everyday, not just the “big” spiritual moments
• The difference between sacrifice and mercy in your spiritual journey
• Letting go of control and trusting God’s plan when nothing makes sense
• How empowerment coaching became a calling born from her own adversity
• Using writing as therapy for emotional healing and self-discovery
• The hard but holy work of self-forgiveness and talking back to negative self-talk
• What it means to be “yoked with God” in real life, not just in theory
• Why everyone, no matter their past, is worth the save

I sit down with Athena Dean Holtz to explore her incredible journey from spiritual abuse and deception to healing and redemption.

Athena shares how realizing she had been deceived became a defining moment in her faith journey. We talk openly about how taking ownership of her part in the story opened the door to real transformation.

ATHENA DEAN HOLTZ - PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER

Resilience Expert | Discernment Strategist

Creator of The Redemptive Leadership Framework

Athena's books on healing, spiritual abuse, and redemption

Athena's podcast: No Longer Hiding

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Subscribe to Athena's YouTube channel

Athena and I talk about the importance of recognizing red flags in spiritual movements, as well as why developing discernment can help you understand the enemy’s tactics.

She also dives into the powerful role forgiveness plays in finding freedom, while reminding us of a divine truth: God meets us in our pain, uses adversity to grow us, and cares deeply about every detail of our lives.

This episode is for anyone navigating spiritual confusion, betrayal, or loss of faith. If you're looking for a way to experience God’s healing presence again, or maybe for the first time, Athena’s story is a beautiful reminder that redemption is always possible when we surrender our brokenness to Him.

Living with the reality that our days are numbered can feel terrifying, but it can also be a doorway into deeper love, sharper presence, and a more honest life.

In this episode, I sit down with Niki DiGaetaeno, Death Doula, Funeral Planner, & Grief Supporter to talk about what really happens when we stop looking away from death and start letting it shape how we live, love, and plan.

• Follow Niki on Instagram
• Read Niki's blog
• Find out about Niki's book

Niki shares her path from the Appalachian Trail to end-of-life work, what it's like sitting at the bedside, and why legacy, grief, and story are at the heart of how she serves.

We get into the very human side of dying...the paperwork and planning, yes, but also the fear, the tenderness, the family dynamics, and the power of being fully present when it matters most.

You'll hear us talk about:

• What a death doula actually does
• How hospice and doula care weave together
• Grief “hierarchies", pet loss, & losing primary attachment figures
• How validating our own experience can open the door to healing
• Why end-of-life wishes are one of the greatest gifts we can give people we love

Woven through it all are the lessons Niki carried off the Appalachian Trail, about impermanence, resilience, and finding beauty in what doesn’t last.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro + how this conversation came to be

00:30 – What a death doula is and how they support end-of-life experiences

04:38 – Why planning ahead/getting your affairs in order brings relief to everyone

09:07 – Niki’s path into death work through adversity, mental health, and purpose

12:35 – Where hospice ends & doulas step in

15:29 – What actually happens in hospice, including active dying phases

18:54 – The emotional experience of sitting with the dying and their families

22:35 – Facing the reality of death and practicing intentional presence

30:16 – Managing big emotions for patients, caregivers, and loved ones

33:40 – Legacy stories, guided autobiographies, & the healing power of storytelling

36:10 – How our culture treats death and how acceptance changes the way we live

43:17 – Pets as attachment figures and why their loss can rock us

45:33 – Grief validation and the trap of the “Grief Olympics”

50:34 – Practical end-of-life planning and core legal documents to consider

56:22 – Spiritual perspectives and personal beliefs about what happens after death

63:37 – What nature and time backpacking on trails revealed to Niki

67:52 – Trail lessons that translate into life, grief, and death work

75:24 – Choosing to live intentionally in the face of mortality

78:55 – Presence, ambition, and finding a more grounded pace in life

81:35 – The deep interconnectedness of life, death, and living fully

84:45 – Final reflections on honoring impermanence + showing love while we’re here

Resources

• Five Wishes
• Aging with Dignity
• International End of Life Doula Association
• What is a death doula?

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This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea. Use discount code Breanne10 at checkout for a discount!

#death #deathdoula #endoflife #hospicecare #endoflifecare

In this episode of Adventures and Adversity, I sit down with Amber, a woman whose journey exemplifies the strength it takes to rise from unimaginable hardship.

Amber opens up about her life with raw honesty, taking us through years marked by early motherhood at age 16, toxic relationships, addiction, trauma, and profound grief.

Through it all, her story is one of courage, faith, and rediscovery, proof that even in our darkest moments, healing and transformation are possible.

In our conversation, Amber shares:

• What it was like becoming a mother at 16 and navigating a turbulent family dynamic.
• Her experiences in troubled relationships and the pain of addiction and betrayal.
• The powerful story behind her sobriety, now five years strong, and her renewed spiritual connection.
• The heartbreaking loss of her son Kyle to fentanyl this past November, the grief that followed, and the signs she feels from his spirit in nature.
• Insights about healing from narcissistic abuse, rebuilding self-worth, and finding community through service.
• How sharing her truth has become both a personal act of healing and a way to help others find theirs.

This episode is a reminder that even after immense loss and suffering, we have the power to transform pain into purpose. Amber’s story calls us to be honest with ourselves, with others, and with whatever higher power guides us, because recovery and renewal begin there.

Helpful resources:

• Celebrate Recovery
• Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Resources for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
• Spiritual Significance of Eagles and Doves
• Native American Spirituality and Connection to Nature

Connect with Amber on Instagram

Follow Adventures in Adversity on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook

This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by ⁠DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea⁠. Use discount code Breanne10 at checkout.

This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea. Use code Breanne10 at checkout for a discount!

Adventures in Adversity on Instagram & Facebook

You know those people who just radiate warmth and authenticity the moment you meet them? That’s my friend, Kendal Anderson. She’s a doctor, a physical therapist, an author, a mom, a wife, an entrepreneur, and honestly, just one of the kindest souls I know.

⁠⁠Buy Kendal's children's book, "Different..."⁠⁠

In this episode, we chat about how we first met at a fashion event (because life has a funny way of connecting the right people at the right time) and dive into the story behind her beautiful NEW children’s book, "Different."

Kendal shares what inspired her to write it and why helping kids embrace who they are is so close to her heart.

From there, we get real about what it’s like to work as a Doctor of Physical Therapy in an acute care California hospital, the power of empathy, and how adversity can actually shape us in the best ways.

Kendal’s perspective on faith, personal growth, and finding purpose through challenges is inspiring and can be applied to everyday life, no matter what your daily life looks like.

This conversation with my awesome friend is full of reminders that being “different” isn’t something to fix. It’s something to celebrate.

Takeaways:

• Our differences are what make us shine.
• Kindness and empathy go a long way, especially when things get hard.
• Adversity often prepares us for something greater.
• You never know what someone’s carrying or how far a kind word can go.

Sound Bites:

• “Adversity can prepare you for something greater.”
• “Being different is so beautiful.”
• “You never know what someone is carrying.”

Chapters:

00:00 Our Friendship Story

04:17 The Inspiration Behind Different

09:58 Writing a Children’s Book

14:41 Embracing What Makes Us Unique

24:44 Kendal’s Work as a Physical Therapist

30:07 Finding Strength Through Adversity

41:10 Faith and Growth

55:27 Reflections on Gratitude and Purpose

LINQ Wellness is a women-owned business created by licensed Doctors of Physical Therapy who believe in "Living in Quality."

Check out Kendal's business

"We are invested in optimizing wellness for individuals and groups at home, in their community, and in their workplace. Our team is comprised of brain, body, and movement experts who believe in the brain and body connection.

At LINQ, we help individuals and groups optimize their movement and feel good in their bodies, no matter where they are physically and mentally. We specialize in custom wellness programs that cater to the evolving needs of individuals at various stages of life."

#childrensbooks #different #embracedifferences #kidsbooks #physicaltherapy

In this episode, Rob shares how he grew up in the foster care system, the abuse he endured, and how he often carried his entire life in a trash bag.

He opens up about how those experiences shaped the advocate, father, and leader he is today.

We talk about what it means to break cycles of neglect, to choose empathy in the face of pain, and to build the kind of community support every child deserves.

This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by Divini, a honey-based Kombucha tea. Visit and use code Breanne10 at checkout for a discount!

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In this episode: I sit down with "Big Adamm" Mangieri

From playing offensive line in college football to protecting A-list celebrities like Andreea Boccelli, J-Lo, and Shawn Mendes on world tours, as well as tech executives, politicians, and more, Adamm's professional life for the past 20+ years may seem glamorous, but he shares that there's a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to private security.

Adamm's story is really about something deeper: how adversity becomes your greatest teacher. We talk about what it means to stand firm in your values when the stakes are highest.

He shares what it was like working security on the floor for Elon Musk at Charlie Kirk's memorial, a day that shifted everything for him about what legacy truly means.

And we dig into the reality of executive protection: the discipline, the pressure, and why genuine human connection matters more than any spotlight.

This is a raw, real conversation about faith, purpose, safety, politics, community, tolerance, and what it takes to stay authentic when the world is watching.

What we explore

• How Adamm's journey from athlete to bodyguard and executive protection specialist revealed his true calling
• What he has learned about faith, humility, and courage while touring the world with global tech, biotech, & finance executives, pastors, politicians, and celebrities
• Being on the floor at Charlie Kirk's memorial, and how that moment recalibrated his entire perspective on what matters
• The discipline, pressure, and hidden truths of executive protection work
• Why real community is built through genuine presence, not social media
• How listening to your intuition can save your life, and guide your soul
• Adversity isn't punishment...it's the refining fire that prepares you for your next chapter
• Faith brings clarity when the world feels chaotic and overwhelming
• True community is built offline, through real and lasting human connection
• Material success means nothing without integrity, service, and inner peace
• Listening to your gut is both a safety instinct and a spiritual compass
• Living authentically (no matter who's watching!) is where real freedom begins

Key takeaways

• Adversity isn't punishment...it's the refining fire that prepares you for your next chapter
• Faith brings clarity when the world feels chaotic and overwhelming
• True community is built offline, through real and lasting human connection
• Material success means nothing without integrity, service, and inner peace
• Listening to your gut is both a safety instinct and a spiritual compass

Living authentically (no matter who's watching!) is where real freedom begins

Why watch this episode

If you've ever questioned your path, felt the weight of staying true to yourself when it's hard, or wondered what real courage looks like, this episode will speak directly to you. Adamm's story reminds us that our greatest challenges often become our greatest strengths.

#executiveprotection #protection #bodyguard #faith #purpose #celebritybodyguards

*This episode is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based kombucha tea: Use code Breanne10 at checkout for a discount!*

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This episode is a personal thank you to my guests and to the people listening who might need their stories right now. I move quickly through Seasons 1 and 2, sharing what each guest taught me and how those lessons changed the way I see life.

Timestamps

00:00–02:30 Why I’m doing this episode, what Seasons 1–2 meant to me, and a shout‑out to my first 50 guests.

02:30–08:00· Early guests: cancer, gratitude games, building a personal board of directors, and stuffing emotions vs. facing them.

08:00–16:00· Stoicism, therapists as humans, first responders, poetry as healing, and redefining disability and strength.

16:00–24:00· Job loss, humor in adversity, BRCA and preventative surgery, and the episode on narcissistic abuse that changed my life.

24:00–32:00 Boxing and faith, grief and working in tech, best‑friend episodes, in‑person comedy chaos, and miscarriage honesty.

32:00–40:00 · Vision loss double feature, kindness at work, parenting a blind daughter, trauma retreats, and escaping domestic abuse.

40:00–48:00 · Coma and the STEP method, prison and accountability, suicide loss and “carrying Sam’s light,” and becoming messy on purpose.

48:00–56:00· Narcissists at work, early childhood education and disability, losing 200 pounds, and building brighter futures for foster kids.

56:00–End · Faith‑based counseling, hospice musical, spiritual wake‑up calls, adoptee journeys, addiction and psychedelics, undercover police work, alcohol recovery, medical breakthroughs, survival memoirs, and young voices on mental health and resilience.

Key takeaways

Gratitude is a survival skill, not a cliché. From Margot playing the “gratitude game” in a hospital bed to others finding tiny things to thank God for, gratitude kept people alive in their darkest hours.

You need a “board of directors” for your life. Anita’s idea of trusted people who tell you the truth in hard seasons has changed how I think about support and decision‑making.

Unfelt feelings don’t disappear; they relocate. Conversations about grief, tumors, chronic pain, addiction, and nervous system trauma showed me how often the body keeps the score when we try to outrun our stories.

Victimhood and adversity are not the same thing. From Ryan’s layoff to Marines, cops, and survivors of abuse, a common thread was refusing to stay in “why me?” and instead asking “what’s my next step?"

Stoicism and faith can coexist. Guests like Brian and Parker reminded me that you can practice stoic discipline and cling to God or purpose at the same time.

Laughter really is medicine. - Episodes with Josh, Brianna, Meg, and Nick proved that comedy and chaos can sit right next to miscarriages, job loss, and parenting meltdowns.

Disability and blindness are spectrums, not boxes. Guests living with cerebral ataxia, degenerative eye disease, and vision loss expanded my understanding of ability, independence, and dignity.

Narcissistic abuse is real, insidious, and nameable. Professor Sam Vaknin, workplace conversations on narcissists, and survivors of domestic abuse gave language to my own story and many listeners’ experiences.

Trauma lives in the nervous system, but it’s not the end of the story. Therapists, adoptees, addiction counselors, and trauma specialists helped me see healing as both messy and absolutely possible.

Telling the truth saves lives. From the adoptee who stopped a listener from ending his life to families speaking about suicide and addiction, honest storytelling is literally life‑saving.

***This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based kombucha tea: https://livedivini.com/ ⁠ -- Use code Breanne10 at checkout for a discount!***

At just 17 years old, Aamir speaks with the clarity of someone far beyond his years.

In this powerful episode, he opens up about growing up in one of Philadelphia’s toughest neighborhoods with a nationwide high crime rate and how being raised by a resilient single mom and supportive grandparents shaped his faith, mindset, and sense of purpose. 

Follow Aamir on Instagram

Follow Aamir's poetry account on Instagram

We unpack what it means to take accountability and the process we all go through when we forgive ourselves and others. We talk about apologies, building discipline, and leaning on faith when life feels uncertain.

Aamir shares how connecting with this community and finding mentors has changed his life. Aamir describes how, this past April, he had a life-altering encounter and heard Jesus speak to him in the midst of his own mental health trials while receiving inpatient treatment.

He opens up about how he has since committed his life to prayer and to serving God and others.

Now, he spends a lot of time studying the Word of God, and he describes how reading the Bible has allowed him to receive God’s guidance and transform pain into purpose.

What I admire about him is that he wholeheartedly rejects a victim mentality. He heard from God at his lowest point, and that’s why he believes anyone can rise above their circumstances.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your path, or whether you can come back from past mistakes, this episode is for you.

What we explore

• Growing up in adversity and choosing resilience over self-pity
• Discovering faith and experiencing a spiritual awakening in real time
• Navigating mental health, shame, and the importance of seeking help
• How poetry became a tool for self-expression, healing, and youth empowerment
• Mentorship, single mothers, and the reality of complex family dynamics
• Why accountability matters more than perfection in personal growth
• Forming your own political opinions as a young person
• Understanding your value through God, not labels or statistics
• Adversity can become a catalyst for purpose when paired with faith and accountability.
• Mentorship and community support are lifelines for young people walking through hard environments.
• Self-expression, especially through poetry, can unlock healing and identity.

Soundbites

• “You have to give your parents grace.”
• “You can’t feel sorry for yourself.”
• “You are not alone. God's got you.”

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest

05:15 Understanding adversity through personal experience

09:53 The role of faith and spirituality in healing

13:31 Navigating life in a high-crime environment

16:05 The importance of mentorship

21:41 Celebrating single mothers and family dynamics

26:47 Family dynamics and personal growth

28:26 Spiritual awakening and purpose

30:16 Finding God in adversity

42:13 The importance of seeking help

44:08 Accountability and personal responsibility

47:52 Grace and moving forward

52:04 Looking ahead: excitement for 2026

53:53 The journey of poetry: self-expression and healing

57:25 Engaging in politics: a personal perspective

01:07:50 Faith and values: the foundation of identity

If you’re in Philly and need support or community:

Bringing Everybody Together (BET)

Founded by Richard Washington in 1994, designed to make our community a better place through life skills training. Programs and activities to better relationships between youth and their teachers, parents, schools, and most of all themselves.

Healthy Minds Philly

If you’re a teen in Philly struggling with your mental health, start here to find local support and tools: Explore youth resources.